19/10/2010

Life For Car Crash Murderer

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment, after being found guilty at the Old Bailey, for the murder of Garry Frater in Edgware in May 2009.

Louis Tate, 24 from Southall, was sentenced to serve a minimum of 18 years.

Tate had previously stood trial in March but the jury was unable to reach a verdict and a re-trial was set.

The court heard that police were called around 4:10am on 30 May 2009 to reports of a fail-to-stop collision in De Havilland Road, Edgware.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and the victim, later to be named as Garry Frater, 32 from Edgware, a father of three children. He was taken to Northwick Park Hospital where he later died.

A post-mortem gave cause of death as multiple internal injuries (chest and abdominal crush injuries).

An incident room opened at Hendon and enquiries quickly established that Garry had been on a night out with friends in Watford and whilst there, had come into contact with Louis Tate.

Garry and his friends returned to Edgware in their cab but were followed over 10 miles to Halford Close where an altercation took place. Following this, the car drove to the end of the close turning onto De Havilland Road and was chased by Garry and one of his friends.

The car was then seen to reverse back across the junction at high speed, hitting Garry who was in the middle of the road and dragging him backwards under the car. The car then drove forward at speed, again dragging Garry under the wheels as it drove off.

Officers were able to trace the Ford Fiesta to an address in Acton where it was parked on the driveway with significant damage consistent with the collision.

Forensic analysis showed Garry's fingerprints and blood on the recovered Ford Fiesta.

Tate was arrested in June and taken to a North London police station were he gave a 'no comment' interview. He was charged with murder on 10 June 2009.

A second man was acquitted of murder or manslaughter at trial at the Old Bailey on 30 March 2010.

A third man arrested in connection with the investigation was released with no further action.

Detective Inspector Andy Chalmers, the Investigating Officer from the Metropolitan Police Service's (MPS) Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: "It has been a long process to get to this conviction, involving a very thorough investigation and two trials. I would like to thank not only my officers for their dedication to solving this case, but also Garry's family and friends who have supported us throughout. They miss Garry a great deal and continue to try and make sense of why this happened."

(BMcN)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 January 2008
Three Teens Convicted Of Garry Newlove Murder
Three of five accused teenagers have been convicted of the murder of Cheshire man Garry Newlove, who was kicked to death outside his home after confronting a group of youths. The 47-year-old sales manager was left in a coma after confronting a group of youths outside his house in Station Road North in Fearnhead on August 12 last year.
15 August 2007
Fourth Person Charged Over Garry Newlove Death
A fourth teenager has been charged with the murder of Garry Newlove in Cheshire. Father-of-three Mr Newlove, 47, was attacked after he confronted a group of youths outside his home in Station Road North in Warrington on Friday night. He was taken to hospital suffering massive injuries, including trauma to his head, and he died on Sunday afternoon.
08 March 2013
Business Acquitted Of Tenerife Murder
A British man has been cleared of killing a fellow tourist in Tenerife. It was alleged he threw Garry Walton, 21, of County Waterford, Ireland, overboard from a boat in 1996. Garry drowned on an excursion off Playa de Las Americas in November 1996.
12 February 2008
Newlove Widow Calls For Death Penalty
The widow of Garry Newlove, who was murdered a group of drunken teenagers, has called for the death penalty to be brought back. Speaking to 'The Sun', Helen Newlove, 45, said that she thought the teenagers who murdered her 47-year-old husband should "pay the ultimate price".
11 February 2008
Teen Gang Killers Get 'Life' Sentences
The three teenagers who kicked an innocent householder "like a football" after he confronted them about vandalism outside his Cheshire home in August, have been jailed. All of the defendants were previously found guilty and have now been jailed for life for the murder of dad-of-three Garry Newlove.